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Video on HIV treatment myths

HIV researchers at Stellenbosch University want to take their research about the disease directly to people and are launching an educational video that aims to teach communities about the disease and start conversations about the so-called HIV cure.

The Cape Argus reports that in an effort to raise awareness and debunk myths and stereotypes about the disease, the university's Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, explains – through the video, in simple language – some of the difficult concepts around the “HIV cure”, including claims that certain vitamins or holy water cured the disease.

Professor Keymanthri Moodley, head of Centre for Medical Ethics and Law said while HIV treatment and prevention was well understood in the country, an HIV cure remained scientifically complex and not well understood. She said while scientists were busy with research to find a cure through different concepts such as early treatment, therapeutic vaccines or gene therapies – there was confusion among society that was perpetuated by people who made false claims by selling "cures2 such as vitamins.

Through the video, the university is trying to get patients to start thinking and talking, and ask questions that would help them better understand the concepts of a cure. "The video also stresses the importance of using prevention treatment and cure together in the fight against HIV," said Moodley.

Targeted at patients in clinics and hospitals, the video talks about the experiences being HIV positive, various aspects of treatment, and traditional medicine use, among other things.

[link url="http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/video-to-debunk-hiv-cure-fallacy-1.1859035#.VVnS1bmqqko"]Full Cape Argus report[/link]

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